A Wraith from STARGATE ATLANTIS: The Siege
© Sci-Fi Channel

Mania Grade: D-
Reviewed Format: TV Show
Network: Sci-Fi Channel
Cast: Joe Flannigan, Torri Higginson, Rainbow Sun Francks, Rachel Lutrell, and David Hewlett
Creator: Brad Wright & Robert C. Cooper
Writers: Martin Gero
Director: Martin Wood

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STARGATE ATLANTIS: The Siege

Continuing the threads from the preceding episodes, the Atlantis team is preparing for an invasion force of three Wraith hive ships. While a planet is sought for evacuation, Dr. McKay attempts to reactivate an ancient defense station near the Wraith attack route while Weir prepares to destroy the city to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. On the whole, these stories seem compelling enough to fill an episode with edge-of-the-seat excitement. Unfortunately, the plots are presented with predictable twists, comically overwrought performances, and enough technobabble to confuse the writing staff of a recent STAR TREK series.

Dr. McKay, who at least infuses his scenes with enough sarcastic wit to keep them interesting, suffers the most in this installment. His mission to repair the Ancient's defense station consists of scene after scene of useless jargon tossed off to explain schematics flashed upon computer screens. Not a single syllable of this storyline makes a lick of sense to anyone who isn't a character within the show, and the only point of interest is a vaguely suspenseful spacewalk near the end of the episode. The sad truth is that the poignant finale of this plot is completely undermined by its banal set up and only lackluster storytelling is to blame.

Meanwhile, back on Atlantis, Dr. Weir's problems are slightly less rooted in indecipherable gibberish as she and Dr. Zelenka set about determining the city's fate should the Wraith escape McKay's defenses. Here, the information age takes center stage as the Atlantis crew are unwilling to leave behind the amassed knowledge of the Ancients while fearing for its use in Wraith hands. The episode's only redeeming plot thread rests with this argument, which sadly isn't enough to keep the rest of the ponderous story afloat.

Finally, Major Sheppard must deal with the prejudices of his men in the aftermath of learning that Teyla harbors Wraith D.N.A. The obligatory confrontation occurs up front when her place on a mission is questioned due to the possible security risk of the enemy reading her thoughts. As anyone who's watched TV would expect, there's a fight, which ends with Sheppard reaffirming his faith in Teyla before continuing on the mission. The predictable complications arise on the trip, the expected allegations are reiterated then diffused. Then, like Saturday following Friday, the narrative continues to the point the creators want the viewer to expect, only to be revealed that it's not the case. This is television by the numbers, and STARGATE ATLANTIS should be held to a higher standard.

In the wake of a well-written bottle episode like "Letters from Pegasus", it's disappointing to see part one of a season finale squander a carefully built dam of tension in what amounts to a collection of dramatic cliches. This episode is the antithesis to STARGATE SG-1's daring take on the alternate-reality concept and airing after that spectacular episode does this one no favors. With a little luck, part two of "The Siege" will recover the promise of earlier installments in time for a grand finale, but it's going to take some work to recover from this fumble.